Voters reject Crestview bond issue

Deanne Johnson

Staff Writer

djohnson@mojonews.com

LISBON — Voters in Crestview decided against a 2.93-mill construction bond levy in unofficial results on Tuesday, declining to give the school district additional money for building new facilities.

Because voters declined the levy, which would have brought in $5.2 million, the Ohio School Facilities Commission will not be funding 88 percent of the $43.2 million project.

However, Crestview Schools will still need to come up with the money for needed repairs for the existing buildings and the OSFC reportedly will not help with the costs of repairs. There are an estimated $9 million in repairs needed.

“Today our district stands at a crossroads,” Superintendent Matthew Manley said in a released statement. “We respect the community’s decision and will continue to serve you with wholehearted commitment.”

Manley said with upcoming challenges such as the heating systems, roofs and other infrastructure problems the school system and board will have to make some difficult decisions.

“However, we will not shrink from our focus on our students or our mission and vision for them,” Manley said.

Additionally, Manley said “the Crestview Local Schools would like to share our sincere thanks with the thousands of supporters who voted and the countless volunteers who worked tirelessly for this levy.”

Crestview Schools was not the only school system in the county with an issue on the ballot on Tuesday.

Voters in the United Local school district were more supportive with 59 percent of the voters approving the renewal of a 3-mill permanent improvement levy, which brings in $234,800 annually. The district reportedly plans to use the money for significant building repairs such as roof and window replacements, maintaining the 1:1 initiative which provides computers to each student and repairs or purchases of school buses.

Likewise, nearly 60 percent of Wellsville School District residents voted to renew a 2-mill permanent improvement levy. The levy generates $60,300 per year, which is to go toward upgrades such as safety and technology. In the past the levy has been used for new buses and right now there are plans to purchase a 10-seat transportation van and construct a new playground at DAW Elementary.

Beaver Local Schools voters narrowly chose not to renew a five-year 4.721-mill emergency operating levy, which helps cover day-to-day operations, maintenance, utilities and staff salaries. The levy was expected to generate $1.2 million per year for the next five years.

Nearly 51 percent of the voters in Beaver Local voted against the levy.

A .5 percent income tax on the ballot for the West Branch Schools failed in Columbiana County with nearly 57 percent of the voters here voting against it. In Mahoning County 61 percent of West Branch voters turned down the income tax measure in unofficial results.

The initiative would have remained for five years. The tax was expected to generate $850,000, which will help the district avoid a projected operating deficit over the next five years.